Queen of smiles: Her Majesty chuckles as she says farewell to the Irish president

AS Britain’s most famous example of the stiff upper lip, it is unusual to see the Queen having a good chuckle.

The Queen and Prince Philip share a joke and wave goodbye to the Irish president yesterday[PA]

But she was clearly very amused as she stood next to Prince Philip yesterday to say farewell to the Irish president.

After he left Windsor Castle, President Michael D Higgins highlighted the friendly atmosphere of the four-day state visit, telling of his delight that Britain and Ireland share a language – and humour.

“Humour is a deepening and widening of understanding, to expand the horizons of solidarity and vulnerability,” he said while visiting the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

At a state banquet this week, the Queen said the two nations were “walking together towards a brighter, more settled future”.

Buckingham Palace said the details were unclear but the Queen and the president were sharing a joke.